Comelec notes faster canvassing

DESPITE the delay of transmission of results from some voting areas and the malfunctioning of vote counting machines and SD Cards, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Davao City noted that the canvassing this year was much faster as compared to previous election years.

Krisna Samantha Caballero, Comelec-Davao chair of city board of canvassers, said this year's election was the fastest in terms of canvassing, as it only took more than 24 hours to proclaim all the winning candidates.

"Our target was way beyond expectation. One week ang among expectation," she said right after the proclamation ceremony at the City Council Tuesday evening, May 14.

The election lawyer added it took the board two days to proclaim all winners in the 2016 presidential elections.

Out of the 984,604 registered voters, only 635,806 actually voted. The voter’s turnout were 64.57 percent, as of 8:40 p.m. of May 14.

She said it is expected to be lower, as compared to the presidential elections.

Meanwhile, the Comelec official has yet to verify the total number of malfunctioned VCMs and voter registration verification machines (VRVM), although she said those were just minor glitches that were immediately addressed.

On Tuesday, May 14, Bolton Elementary School (BES), Davao City National High School (DCNHS), and Cesareo Villa-Abrille Elementary School (CVAES) had delays in the transmission of their results.

By 5 p.m. Tuesday, BES and CVAES was able to transmit their data. However, it was only Wednesday morning, May 15, that DCNHS was able to transmit its data.

It was on Tuesday afternoon when Comelec declared the winners of the first and second district councilors and congressmen. It was in the evening when the winners for mayor, vice mayor, and first district councilors and congressmen were proclaimed after the electoral threshold was lowered.

Rejoicing and conceding

Political newbie councilor-elect Jonard Dayap also made it to the final eight slot in the Second District.

Outgoing councilor Diosdado Mahipus Sr., meanwhile, gave an advice to his son, Diosdado Mahipus Jr., who also won this year's election for councilor of the second district.

"Organizing the youth who are the future leaders and train them in technical, vocational courses, teach them livelihood opportunities and imbibe upon them youth leadership and sense of nationalism," Mahipus Sr. said in a text message.

Second District candidate and outgoing Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) Councilor Halila Sudagar already conceded, saying it is not yet the right time.

"I was aspiring to be the first elected Muslim Councilor in Davao City but it turned out that this is not yet the right time. I am also disconsolated because the actualization of all my plans as city councilor is currently put on hold although I commit that it will never be ceased," Sudagar said on her Facebook account.

In a previous report, she said she will continue to support the welfare of the indigenous peoples (IPs) even if not elected as councilor.

Respect for Marcellones

Some netizens gave Marcellones, Duterte-Carpio's mayoral opponent, a salute for his determination in seeking for public support.

"Kay Tatay Jun Marcellones, di ko po kayo kilala personally but I commend you for running as a mayor in Davao. Hindi po in vain ang pagtakbo niyo. Congrats pa rin po! (To tatay Jun Marcellones, I do not know you personally, but I commend you for as a mayor in Davao. Your candidacy will not be in vain. Congatulations to you!)," Twitter user @Pandacoon_pat tweeted.

Another Twitter user @_aphrnn defended the defeated candidate from his bashers.

"Jun Marcellones (running for mayor/ Sara D's competitor) doesn't deserve to be laughed about. He doesn't deserve to be embarrassed by the people. So what kung 33 pa lang ang partial votes, tatawanan pala (So what if he only got 33 votes in the partial votes, does he deserved to be laughed)?" @_aphrnn tweeted.

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